Jodie the neurotic kelpie gets better daily. There is less panicking when not within one metre of a reinventor, preferably both, less manic reactions to storms and much more eating of all of her dinner.
We decided it was time to try to deal with a big one - swimming.
The first couple of times we took her to the river, she watched her ball/frisbee go into the water, went in to her ankles and cried. Embarrassing indeed. And not a little heart-breaking.
Goodness knows what happened in her puppyhood to disabuse such an Aussie dog of the joys of water.
Perth is sweltering through a heatwave, a perfect time to try to teach her to swim. We took her to Riverside Gardens in Bayswater where there's lots of parking, the water is calm and there are nice, sandy beaches.
She was seriously worried when we went into the water, but at least she didn't cry. We tried carrying her into the water a couple of times, whereupon she barely touched the water in her haste to get to the bank. Then we coaxed her in with the frisbee and lots of encouragement.
Eventually she managed a couple of frisbee retrievals from several metres out, and at that point we decided to leave it. We'll go back and reinforce what she's learnt one or two nights this week.
After all, it's slated to be 40deg until the middle of next week.
Monday, 23 January 2012
Saturday, 14 January 2012
The Marmalade Cottage CWA
Alice, Nancy and Marion have been supplying us with an egg a day since they arrived in November. But with all the space in their enclosure the reinventors decided to increase the CWA's membership.
The reinventors are delighted to welcome Joan and Joyce. They're Hylines rescued from the local cage egg producer and they're in a bad way.
The Creative Reinventor managed to thoroughly piss off the lady at the egg farm by announcing he'd like to rescue two hens, rather than buy them. We guess she didn't appreciate the implication of poor treatment. Although how you'd deny it is beyond us.
As well as having had their beaks clipped, they're low on feathers and just don't know how to be chooks.
They don't cope well with the sun - which may not be a bad thing, as we don't want them getting sunburnt before their feathers grow back - and they've never scratched around in the dirt or had a dust bath.
Alice, the boss chook, has been busy reasserting her dominance. But there are promising signs. Joan, being slightly more adventurous than Joyce, has ventured out into the sun and had an experimental scratch.
Neither of them has worked out that the green stuff, about which the others are so enthusiastic, is food, so they're sticking to the laying pellets.
Bless them, they're both laying us an egg every couple of days. And even if they didn't, they'll help take care of scraps and produce us fabulous manure for growing vegies.
If you'd like to rescue some deserving chooks and you're in Perth, drop us a line and we'll give you the details.
The reinventors are delighted to welcome Joan and Joyce. They're Hylines rescued from the local cage egg producer and they're in a bad way.
The Creative Reinventor managed to thoroughly piss off the lady at the egg farm by announcing he'd like to rescue two hens, rather than buy them. We guess she didn't appreciate the implication of poor treatment. Although how you'd deny it is beyond us.
As well as having had their beaks clipped, they're low on feathers and just don't know how to be chooks.
They don't cope well with the sun - which may not be a bad thing, as we don't want them getting sunburnt before their feathers grow back - and they've never scratched around in the dirt or had a dust bath.
Alice, the boss chook, has been busy reasserting her dominance. But there are promising signs. Joan, being slightly more adventurous than Joyce, has ventured out into the sun and had an experimental scratch.
Neither of them has worked out that the green stuff, about which the others are so enthusiastic, is food, so they're sticking to the laying pellets.
Bless them, they're both laying us an egg every couple of days. And even if they didn't, they'll help take care of scraps and produce us fabulous manure for growing vegies.
If you'd like to rescue some deserving chooks and you're in Perth, drop us a line and we'll give you the details.
The view of the loo
Way back in the beginning, this was the sole, erm, convenience Marmalade Cottage boasted.
And then he ran out of reach. It looks like we'll need scaffolding to finish the job.
All its seals were gone - we thought just in the three years the house had been empty, but according to the neighbours, it'd been leaking for 20 years. We had it fitted with a new, dual-flush cistern, and it's been the loo with a view and party loo. But it wasn't very pretty.
The creative reinventor, having finally taken a decent stretch of holidays, has been pottering.
And then he ran out of reach. It looks like we'll need scaffolding to finish the job.
Monday, 9 January 2012
Self-sown
For a while there, before we put together the compost bays, and before that arrival of the Marmalade Cottage CWA (also known as the chooks), all the vegie scraps were thrown into this garden.
The pumpkin seeds, you can see, took advantage of the situation.
One of them is a Jap, the other might be a butternut. So far there are only male flowers, which makes the reinventors a little worried there may be no pumpkins.
Fingers crossed that nature will have its way.
The pumpkin seeds, you can see, took advantage of the situation.
One of them is a Jap, the other might be a butternut. So far there are only male flowers, which makes the reinventors a little worried there may be no pumpkins.
Fingers crossed that nature will have its way.
Sunday, 8 January 2012
Delayed gratification
The Practical Reinventor has long wanted to grow water chestnuts. And now she is.
It's a good use for the old bathtub, non?
Apparently, they'll take a good few months, and they'll need to be be kept in about 10cm of water.
The first two plants came from a specialist supplier at the Kalamunda Sunday Farmers Markets, the last, the practical one is ashamed to admit came from the green and orange temple to lost weekends. It was in the pond plants section, rather than the vegetables.
It's a good use for the old bathtub, non?
Apparently, they'll take a good few months, and they'll need to be be kept in about 10cm of water.
The first two plants came from a specialist supplier at the Kalamunda Sunday Farmers Markets, the last, the practical one is ashamed to admit came from the green and orange temple to lost weekends. It was in the pond plants section, rather than the vegetables.
Saturday, 24 December 2011
A very Marmalade Cottage Christmas
For the last couple of weeks, the reinventors have been planning the inaugural Marmalade Cottage Christmas. Last night it came together. With 12 adult and two infant guests, there was probably enough food for 20 and presents for everyone.
This isn't exactly a hand-made gift, but near enough. The practical reinventor found a block of organic glycerine soap and melted it down, adding kaffir lime leaves to the bottom layer and lemon rind to the top. She also made some old-fashioned Bay Rum aftershave (mostly vodka, so if it doesn't work as aftershave, she supposes the recipient could drink it...) Others unwrapped jam or relish and a selection of vintage gifts found at op shops and garage sales.
Brown paper packages tied up with string under the tree.
And the very festive dinner in the back garden. Dips and nibblies to begin, punch and wine, turkey, glazed ham, falafel, coleslaw, potato salad, baked potatoes, braised lentils, beans with beetroot and fetta, then gluten-free orange cake, fruit and pavlova with the traditional Australian topping of crushed peppermint crisp.
There are several weeks' worth of leftovers in the fridge!
This isn't exactly a hand-made gift, but near enough. The practical reinventor found a block of organic glycerine soap and melted it down, adding kaffir lime leaves to the bottom layer and lemon rind to the top. She also made some old-fashioned Bay Rum aftershave (mostly vodka, so if it doesn't work as aftershave, she supposes the recipient could drink it...) Others unwrapped jam or relish and a selection of vintage gifts found at op shops and garage sales.
Brown paper packages tied up with string under the tree.
And the very festive dinner in the back garden. Dips and nibblies to begin, punch and wine, turkey, glazed ham, falafel, coleslaw, potato salad, baked potatoes, braised lentils, beans with beetroot and fetta, then gluten-free orange cake, fruit and pavlova with the traditional Australian topping of crushed peppermint crisp.
There are several weeks' worth of leftovers in the fridge!
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Surviving remnant
The front garden of Marmalade Cottage wasn't ever (as far as the reinventors can tell) much to look at. When we moved in, it was brown and sad.
Just hanging on were three hydrangeas. The plan was to plant out the front garden with masses of flowers - all white in contrast with the red brick of the cottage. Hydrangeas are rarely white.
The practical reinventor cut the hydrangeas back savagely and applied glyphosate.
This is what happened:
Just hanging on were three hydrangeas. The plan was to plant out the front garden with masses of flowers - all white in contrast with the red brick of the cottage. Hydrangeas are rarely white.
The practical reinventor cut the hydrangeas back savagely and applied glyphosate.
This is what happened:
Looks like they're staying.
A long time coming
The reinventors inherited rather a lot of Marmalade Cottage's former owner's possessions. Some of it was quite nice, the rest was this:
Then it was this:
More correctly, it was about a third more than this. The enterprising and desperate of the area have removed quite a lot of saleable scrap metal.
We're just pleased our stables now look like this:
Tuesday, 29 November 2011
Tempus fugit. Or something.
The reinventors ran away for the weekend to celebrate the practical one's birthday. As well as drinking fabulously obscure wines in achingly cool bars - one of which was the brainchild of a Masterchef competitor - they found a treasure for Marmalade Cottage.
It has always been the plan to have small collections about the house - there are a number of cookbooks dating back to the era the house was built.
And now there's this:
Which is the beginning of what is going to be a completely nutty display.
There is the Dali clock.
There's the movie bomb clock.
The 1930s kitchen clock which doesn't get wound up on account of its absurdly loud tick.
It has always been the plan to have small collections about the house - there are a number of cookbooks dating back to the era the house was built.
And now there's this:
Which is the beginning of what is going to be a completely nutty display.
There is the Dali clock.
There's the movie bomb clock.
The 1930s kitchen clock which doesn't get wound up on account of its absurdly loud tick.
They've been joined by the ABC test pattern clock.
And for luck, a portrait of Audrey Hepburn on a record.
That's a nail sticking out of her mouth. As well as the cigarette holder.
Monday, 14 November 2011
The ladies have arrived!
You might remember back here, we started to build a chook house.
Over the last couple of months, it's taken shape, based on the building materials we found, scrounged and nicked from building site rubbish piles.
With the addition of some hay, it was finally ready.
We proud to introduce, on the left Nancy Bird Walton (a Chinese Silky) in the centre Alice Anderson and on the top right, Marion Bell, who are Australorps.
Bless them, they've given us these:
As well as giving us eggs, they'll eat most of the scraps we produce, and their poo will feed the soil. It's very good, organic practice and everybody gets what they need from the system.
Over the last couple of months, it's taken shape, based on the building materials we found, scrounged and nicked from building site rubbish piles.
With the addition of some hay, it was finally ready.
We proud to introduce, on the left Nancy Bird Walton (a Chinese Silky) in the centre Alice Anderson and on the top right, Marion Bell, who are Australorps.
Bless them, they've given us these:
As well as giving us eggs, they'll eat most of the scraps we produce, and their poo will feed the soil. It's very good, organic practice and everybody gets what they need from the system.
What happens in spring
Plants get all excited and grow!
Sweet corn.
A second plot of broad beans, with a few marigolds peeping out from the bean foliage.
The fig tree that's been in a pot for four years. Immediately after it went into the ground it looked awfully sick and dropped the leaves and fruit it had. Now look! There are least seven little figs growing there.
This is the second plot of butter beans. There have been enough to give great handfuls to the neighbours and they're still coming.
Potatoes. Add to that beetroot, peas, snow peas, tomatoes, lettuces, onions, spring onions and silverbeet. Yet to go in are capsicums, rosella, more lettuces, green beans, pumpkins, cucumbers and whatever else we can fit in. We are rather running out of space.
Sweet corn.
A second plot of broad beans, with a few marigolds peeping out from the bean foliage.
The fig tree that's been in a pot for four years. Immediately after it went into the ground it looked awfully sick and dropped the leaves and fruit it had. Now look! There are least seven little figs growing there.
This is the second plot of butter beans. There have been enough to give great handfuls to the neighbours and they're still coming.
Potatoes. Add to that beetroot, peas, snow peas, tomatoes, lettuces, onions, spring onions and silverbeet. Yet to go in are capsicums, rosella, more lettuces, green beans, pumpkins, cucumbers and whatever else we can fit in. We are rather running out of space.
Sunday, 6 November 2011
Harvest
After a morning helping clear out spent crops and plant new ones at the Urban Orchard in Perth's Cultural Centre with Josh Byrne (of ABC Gardening Australia fame), the reinventors caught the train home full of enthusiasm for the back garden.
The first plot of broad beans has given its all, and left some lovely nitrogen in the soil. They've come out and been replaced by some beetroot seedlings left over from the morning's activities, and more basil.
The butter beans have produced beyond our expectations, and are ripening faster than we can eat them.
This is what we picked today:
Half of the butter beans went into handmade drawstring bags for two of the reinventors' favourite neighbours.
Into the largest vegetable bed went: kipfler potatoes, corn, onions, lettuce, carrots and more butter beans. We now almost don't need to buy vegetables.
The first plot of broad beans has given its all, and left some lovely nitrogen in the soil. They've come out and been replaced by some beetroot seedlings left over from the morning's activities, and more basil.
The butter beans have produced beyond our expectations, and are ripening faster than we can eat them.
This is what we picked today:
Half of the butter beans went into handmade drawstring bags for two of the reinventors' favourite neighbours.
Into the largest vegetable bed went: kipfler potatoes, corn, onions, lettuce, carrots and more butter beans. We now almost don't need to buy vegetables.
Tuesday, 11 October 2011
On the approach of summer
One of the first quotes we decided not to go with was for insulation. It was less than a third of the quote to buy some more-than-needed-for-the-job insulation from someone off Gumtree, then just a matter of getting the batts up the ladder and into the ceiling.
We bought the insulation before the house settled, and lovely friends P and D stored it for us. A bit of it went in several weeks after we moved in. Then it got put off and put off.
Last weekend we set this up:
Then the practical reinventor, who does not have a head for heights, and does not do ladders, folded each batt in half and passed it to the creative reinventor in the ceiling. That's five packs of 16 batts.
We're very glad it's done.
We bought the insulation before the house settled, and lovely friends P and D stored it for us. A bit of it went in several weeks after we moved in. Then it got put off and put off.
Last weekend we set this up:
Then the practical reinventor, who does not have a head for heights, and does not do ladders, folded each batt in half and passed it to the creative reinventor in the ceiling. That's five packs of 16 batts.
We're very glad it's done.
We hate painting, but...
You have to admit it makes the biggest difference. And you're always glad when it's over.
The mudroom (we believe) was last painted in the 1940s. It spent something like 50 years as the kitchen, and it doesn't appear the walls were ever washed. Don't think about that too much. The last owner was a smoker. Don't think about that either.
Here's the creative reinventor making an enormous difference.
Thus inspired, he kept going.
We've had a mistint tin of this lovely, buttery, sunshiney yellow for a while.
When the plumbers put in our inside toilet they had to dig up some of our (admittedly dodgy) concrete. Mostly that bit of the back verandah has been home to firewood or packs of insulation.
Once we'd cleaned out all the rubbish and rubble, and painted the wall behind it, we put some plants in.
The mudroom (we believe) was last painted in the 1940s. It spent something like 50 years as the kitchen, and it doesn't appear the walls were ever washed. Don't think about that too much. The last owner was a smoker. Don't think about that either.
Here's the creative reinventor making an enormous difference.
Thus inspired, he kept going.
Getting rid of the hospital green has always been a dream.
We've had a mistint tin of this lovely, buttery, sunshiney yellow for a while.
When the plumbers put in our inside toilet they had to dig up some of our (admittedly dodgy) concrete. Mostly that bit of the back verandah has been home to firewood or packs of insulation.
So now we have a little garden right at the back door.
Thursday, 6 October 2011
The left hand side
Right at the beginning, the left hand side of the back garden looked like this:
Then winter hit, and with all that lovely rain, we got this:
As of last weekend, we have this:
We are looking at it from the other side, but that was where the sun was. It includes one of these:
Which is just your standard grafted purple Nellie Kelly passionfruit, but it'll make a magnificent, edible screen.
Then winter hit, and with all that lovely rain, we got this:
As of last weekend, we have this:
We are looking at it from the other side, but that was where the sun was. It includes one of these:
Which is just your standard grafted purple Nellie Kelly passionfruit, but it'll make a magnificent, edible screen.
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